Methods of Communication Within a Business

by Leigh Richards, Demand Media

Many communication opportunities are available to today's businesses.

communication 2 image by indochine from Fotolia.com

Many methods of communication are in business settings--whether those businesses are large or small. Understanding the availability and benefits, and drawbacks of the various options can help businesspeople choose the communication tools most likely to resonate with their audiences. Today communication can occur in a variety of ways -- in person, through print documents, through broadcast messages or, increasingly, online.

Face-to-Face

While technology is rampant, face-to-face communication remains a key method for communicating in business environments, says Kim Huggins of K HR Solutions. The company conducted a survey in 2009 that indicated that 56 percent of those responding preferred face-to-face communication with their boss and 50 percent preferred face-to-face communication with colleagues. Next highest rating item was email, selected by 35 percent of the respondents. One reason for this continued preference for face-to-face communication says Huggins, is the increase in the amount of "techno-chatter" that people experience on a daily basis.

Email

Email is an increasingly common method of communication in many organizations and is used even when people may sit in offices or cubicles next to each other. Email can be used to communicate quickly with one or thousands of individuals in a variety of locations and offers flexibility, convenience and low-cost.

Meetings

Meetings are often the butt of jokes in many business settings and in comic strips, such as Dilbert, but they continue to serve as an important method of communication in many organizations. Successful meetings--those with a stated agenda, specific starting and ending time, skilled facilitation and minutes to indicate who will be responsible for what after the meeting--are important elements that can guarantee communication success.

Social Media

Although social media is often considered a communication tool to be used with the general public, many organizations are also using social media internally to communicate among specific groups that have shared interests, says Linda Pophal, CEO of Strategic Communications, LLC. Facebook and other tools can be used quite effectively to establish bonds between employees who may work in dispersed locations because it offers not only the opportunity for interaction but the use of photos that can help create a more personal connection between employees who may not otherwise have the opportunity to meet face-to-face.

About the Author

Leigh Richards has been a writer since 1980. Her work has been published in "Entrepreneur," "Complete Woman" and "Toastmaster," among many other trade and professional publications. She has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Arts in organizational management from the University of Phoenix.

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